Mechanical motion



Aug. 15, 1939 w. A. SHANLEY 2,169,663.

MECHANICAL MOTION Original Filed May 10, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALTER A. SHANLEY BY HIS ATTORNEYS m MM,

ug- .1939 WASHANLEY 2,169, 6

MECHANICAL MOTION Original Filed May 10, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7/14 'Illa INVENTOR WALTER A. SHANLEY BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES T OFFEC Application May 10, 1938, Serial No. 207,160 Renewed July 15, 1939 9 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanical motions of general application but particularly it relates to mechanical motions useful in toys.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mechanical motion of general use which is actuated by a lever or arm which may be operated to cause energization and release of a spring impulse for the purpose of causing an inertia wheel to rotate freely and to actuate devices connected therewith.

Another object is to provide'a mechanical motion of the above type, which is capable of use in a toy such as a polo pony, in such manner that when a ball on an arm attached to the pony is struck by a players mallet the legs of the pony will be energized in a manner simulating the gallop of a live pony.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become. apparent as it is described in con nection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a toy polo pony embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the mechanical motion embodied within the toy shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section view taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section view taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section view taken along line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing in detail the actuating mechanism outside of the toy shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation view of another form of mechanism embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section view taken along line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section view taken along line I0--I0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section taken along line II-II of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged front elevation view of the clutch means; and

Fig. 13 is a plan-view of the clutch shown in Fig. 5.

In the form ofthe invention shown in Figures 1 to 7 the invention is shown as applied to a toy but it will be understood that the mechanical motion is susceptible of many uses outside of the field of toys.

The toy comprises a hollow polo pony I00 made a of metal or other suitable material and within which the mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 6 is inclosed. Extending out through a slot in the side of the pony is an arm bearing a ball ,5

I04 which is connected to the arm I02 by a universal joint I06. The toy is adapted for use in a game in which the player will strike the ball I04 with a mallet, causing movement of the arm I02 in such a manner as to actuate the mechanism within the pony as will hereinafter be more fully described. The pony is supported on a heavy metal sphere I05 which is embraced loosely by semi-circular arms I08 permitting the sphere to roll and support the pony. The arms I08 are secured at their upper ends to a block IIO which in turn is connected in a suitable fashion, such as by rod H2 to the base II4 of the mechanism within the pony. As an alternative arrangement the rod II2 might be lengthened and rigidly attached to a platform or support movable universally on rollers in equivalent manner to theball N15. The ponys legs II5'are pivotally connected to the body of the pony and are actuated by the mechanism within the pony as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The mechanical movement or mechanism within the pony is mounted upon a suitable base, such as an angle plate having a horizontal portion H4 and a vertical portion IIB. Secured at the top of the plate is an angle bracket IIB having an adjustable ball bearing I20 positioned by a screw I22 and lock-nut I24. This bearing I20 and a similar bearing I26 support between them an inertia wheel I 28 having a cam groove I30 in which engages a finger I32 of a lever pivoted upon a pivot I34 in the plate IIB. Upon rotation of the inertia wheel the lever will be given an oscillatory motion. Secured to the underside of the inertia wheel is a tooth I36 in position to be engaged intermittently by the ratchet teeth I38 upon a cylinder I40 in a manner which will be more particularly hereinafter described.

The mechanism for operating the inertia wheel is mounted upon a fixed shaft I42 which is or may be screwed into the base I I4 (see Figure 5). Fixedly attached to the base H4 is a circular ratchet cam I44 having inclined teeth I46 on its upper surface.

Loosely mounted upon the main shaft I42 above the fixed cam I44 is a ratchet-cam member I48. This member may be made of two parts, one of which comprises the sleeve I50 having formed on its lower surface curved inclined ratchet teeth I52 and engaging with the ratchet teeth I46. The sleeve I50 may be provided with a flange I54 overlying a strike lever I56 which is loosely mounted for rotation on the sleeve I50. On the upper surface of the flange there may be provided radially extending ribs I58 for a purpose presently to be described. The other part of the ratchet cam member is attached to the sleeve I50 by a set screw I60 and located beneath the strike lever I56 and comprises a ratchet having a central aperture receiving the sleeve I50 and having on its periphery curved ratchet teeth I62. The ratchet teeth I62 are adapted to be engaged by a resilient pawl comprising the end of a coil spring I66 which extends down through a radial slot I64 cut in the strike arm I56. The other end of the coil spring I66 is anchored to the strike arm I56 by a, screw I68. Thus as the strike arm I56 is rotated on the sleeve I50 the end of the spring I66 will engage with one or another of the teeth I62 to cause the ratchet member |6I to rotate with the strike arm and at the same time will cause the sleeve I50 to rotate with it as a unit. The spring, being resilient, will permit its pawl-end to ride over the surface of the ratchet teeth I62 as the strike arm is returned after actuating the ratchet cam member.

Rotatably mounted upon the main shaft I42 is a cylindrical clutch member I10 having on its lower face radially extending slots I12 cut to receive the radially extending ribs I58, previously mentioned. The cam ratchet member therefore functions as a clutch member together with member I10, whereby the parts connected with the upper clutch member I10 and those connected with the lower clutch or ratchet cam member I48 may be separated for independent motion as occasion arises, as hereinafter described.

Attached to the upper end of the clutch member I10 so as to rotate therewith is a block I14 and mounted on the block is the previously mentioned hollow cylindrical sleeve I40, which is coaxial with shaft I42. n the upper edge or periphery of the sleeve are the ratchet teeth I38 which engage intermittently with the inertia wheel tooth I36. Within the sleeve I40 and coiled about shaft I42 is a torsion spring I84 whose lower end is anchored to the cam member I and whose upper end is anchored to the shaft I42 by a collar I18.

In order that the torsion spring may be wound by movement of the strike arm I56, an angle member I80 with an arm I8I depending into the path of strike arm I56 is secured on the block I14.

The operation of the mechanism is thus far described as follows:

As the strike arm I56 is turned about the lower clutch member or sleeve I50 it comes into engagement with the arm I8I to thereby carry the block I14 and toothed cylinder I40 and also the clutch member I10 in clockwise direction to wind the spring I84. At the same time the end of the spring I66, acting as a pawl, engages with a ratchet tooth I62 causing rotation of the lower clutch member I50 and ratchet cam, and as the teeth I52 thereof ride upon the teeth I46 of the stationary cam I44 the toothed cylinder I40 is elevated with its associated parts to engage its teeth I38 with the tooth I36. When the vertical portions of the cams I52 and I46 come into alignment the cam I52 and clutch member I50 will drop, disengaging the ribs I58 from the slots I12. At this time the striking force on the arm I56 will havebeen. removed and the energy of the torsion spring is released to permit the sleeve I40 to impart rotary motion to the inertia wheel I28, until the teeth I38 disengage tooth I56 as the toothed cylinder I40 drops. Thereafter the inertia wheel may rotate freely, imparting oscillatory movement to the lever I32. The oscillatory motion may be imparted to the ponys legs by a stiff wire link I35 soldered, welded or otherwise secured at one end to the ponys leg H5, and at the other end pivotally and slidably connected to the lever I32 by a pin and slot connection I33.

The spring action also serves to return the strike lever I56 to its original position by reason of the arm I8I engaging and returning the strike lever as the toothed cylinder I40 rotates. Return movement may be stopped by a pin I15 on block I14, coming into engagement with the plate II6.

In applying the mechanical motion shown in Figs. 2-6 to the toy pony, mechanism such as shown in Figs. 1 and '7 may be employed. In this mechanism the ball carrying arm I02 extends through a slot in the ponys side and through a short narrow slot I03 in a lug i56 struck up from the side of the strike arm I56. To the innor end of the ball arm I02 one end of a link I01 is secured or pivoted. Its other end is connected to the knee of a toggle linkage comprising two links I00, III. Link :09 is pivoted to the strike arm I56 and link III is pivoted to a fixed pivot in the side of the pony or other fixed part. Thus when the ball is struck in any direction the arm I02 will engage one end or the other of the slot I03 which will act as a fulcrum. Thereupon the inner end of the arm I62 willthrough link I01-cause the toggle linkage to collapse in one direction or the other moving the strike arm in the direction of the arrow A, to operate the mechanism in Figs. 2-6 or that in Figs. 8-13 hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 8-13 of the drawings the mechanism is illustrated as mounted upon a base I0 having supporting brackets I2 and I4 extending perpendicularly thereto. Mounted upon these supports is a main shaft I6 upon which are mounted a majority of the parts of the mechanism. This shaft I6 is rigidly attached to the brackets I2 and I4 in any suitable manner, such as by threading the lower end through the support I4 and applying a lock-nut I8.

The mechanism is operated by a lever or strike arm which projects outwardly from the base I0 and is rigidly attached to a rod 22 which is journalled in a block 24 on the back of the base I0. Rigidly attached to the rod 22, adjacent the support 24, is an arm 26 which extends through an aperture in the base I0 and has its projecting end bifurcated, as at 2611 and 26b.

The bifurcations 26a. and 26b embrace an outer sleeve 28 on the lower end of the main shaft I6. This sleeve has a flange 28a on the under surface of which are formed inclined ratchet teeth 28a for engagement with 1ugs'26c formed on the ends of the bifurcations of member 26. The outer sleeve 28 slides upon an inner sleeve 30 which in turn is slidably mounted upon the main shaft I6 in such manner as to be rotatable. The inner sleeve 30 is provided with helical cam grooves 30a in. which engage radially extending pins 28d projecting inwardly from the sleeve 28. A coil spring 32 is provided around sleeve 30 to press the sleeve 28 downwardly or against the bracket I4, this spring pressing against the upper surface of the flange 28a and against a ball bearing 34 which is provided to reduce friction. This bearing 34 on the lower side engages 'a shoulder of the sleeve 3!! formed by a reduction in diameter of, the sleeve. On the other side the bearing 34 engages a fixed cam member 35 which is supported by a bracket 38 mounted upon the base l0. Cam member 36 has, on its upper end surface, rigid inclined ratchet teeth engaging with similar inclined ratchet teeth 4| upon a movable clutch member is which is slidable along the upper reduced end of the sleeve 36- by means of a key and key-way arrangement,

the pin 42 extending radially inwardly from the movable clutch member 40 to engage in the slot 44- cut in axial direction in the periphery of the sleeve 36. The sleeve 30 terminates adjacent the upper surface of the clutch member 413. EX- tending from the upper surface of the clutch member 40 are radially extending ribs 46 which are adapted to be engaged by nubs 48 which extend from the lower surface of an upper clutch member 50 which is rotatably mounted upon the main shaft It. The upper surface of the clutch member 58 has anchored to it a torsion spring 52 whose other end is anchored.

to the main shaft IE by a collar 54 or in other suitable manner.

Radially extending from the clutch member 50 is a setting arm 56 which is adapted to engage with one side of a finger 58 which extends radially from. a sleeve member 6i! which is pivotally mounted upon the base Hi by a pivot extending perpendicularly from the base. tending radially from the up er clutch member 50, but spaced angularly from arm 56, is a hammer arm 52 bearing a hammer head 64 which is adapted to engage the side of the finger 58 opposite to the setting arm 5%. Due to the spacing of the setting and hammer arms their engagements with the finger 58 are not simultaneous, as will be more apparent upon study of the operation of the device hereinafter given. A pair of stops 655 and 58 limit the movement of the finger58 in either direction.

Extending in a direction diametrically opposite to the finger 58 is a rack arm 10 bearing rack teeth. l2 which are adapted to engage intermittently with the teeth of a conical gear 7:3. Gear M is rigidly attached to an inertia wheel it which is. rotatablymounted, preferably bya ball bearing, upon the shaft It. The engagement of the rack and the pinion gear 14 is arranged so that when the rack has completed its counter-clockwise movement, as shown in Figure 8, it will be out ofengagement with the pinion, whereby the pinion and inertia wheel ma continue to rotate, freely.

In operation, the strike arm 20 may be pressed upwardly, (in Figure 8) causing the bifurcated arm 26 to engage the sleeve 28, the lugs 25 engaging with the ratchet teeth 28b preventing rotative movement of the sleeve as the sleeve is raised against the effort of the light spring 32. As the outer sleeve 28 rises, pins 28d cause the inner sleeve 3? to rotatethe vertical thrust being minimized by the ball bearing 35. As the inner sleeve rotates it carries with it the lower clutch member Ml, whose cam teeth 4i ride upon the cam teeth 3'5 of the fixed cam 36, thereby elevating the clutch member. The rotation. of

the clutch member fill, by reason of the engagement of its radial ribs it with the nubs 38 on the upper clutch member 53 causes rotation of the clutch member 56 also. The rotation of all of these parts is in counter-clockwise direction. Thus the setting arm 56 is caused eventually to engage the right side (see Figure 8) of the finger Also eX-.

'58 'causing clockwise rotation of the sleeve member 60; This clockwise rotation of the rack causes the rack teeth 72 to engage with the pinion Hand to rotate therewith.

Whenthe cam surface of the clutch member ill-rides up on the cam surface of the member 36 to such a point that the Vertical portions of thesecam surfaces are in alignment the clutch member 48) will drop down rap-idly, possibly being aided by the rounded or inclined edges of the ribs and nubs as the clutch members tend to separate. This causes disengagement of the clutch members. Previous rotation of the upper cam member 53 has caused the spring 52 to be wound to urge the clutch member 50 in clock Wise direction. When this clutch member 5 is releasedafter its setting finger 56 has moved the sleeve member 60 toward the stop 68,the clutch member 50 will be free to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction under the effort of the spring 52, whereupon the hammer 64 will strike the finger EB-and cause rotation of the inertia wheel 16 through the engagement of the rack and pinion T2, 14. Since the rack disengages the pinion at the end of its travel the inertia wheel may rotate freely until its inomentum is spent. The rotation of this inertia wheel may be used to actuate any suitable device or devices, such as the legs of the horse described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7 I It should be noted that in the form of Figs; ing of the movable cam surface til on the stationary cam surface 36 urges the clutch members db and 5% constantly into more firm engagement until the vertical surfaces of the cam members 45] and 35 come into alignment, whereupon the urging force is suddenly withdrawn. Thus the clutch members may disengage, or if they tend to fall together, their engagement is so loosened, temporarily, that the rotativeforce of the spring 52 is suificient to cause their disengagement and permit the inde pendent movement of the upper member Ml as described. i

In the. two forms of the invention shown the number ofv teeth on the cam ratchets and the number of ribs and nubs on the clutch members may be varied to fit the requirements of particular use. Also, the strength of the spring maybe varied so that a greater or lesser movement of the strike arm may cause any predeter mined or desired amount of energization ofthe inertia wheel and devices connected thereto.

Many uses of the invention apart from the field of toys will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Equally obvious is the possibility of using the motion imparted to the inertia wheel, or its equivalent, for moving various parts of apparatus in which my invention may be incorporated. Therefore I do not limit my invention to the specific embodiments shown.

I claim 1. A mechanical motion comprising a strike arm, a cam ratchet movable thereby in one direction, a stationary cam ratchet engaging with said movable cam ratchet causing elevation of said movable cam ratchet, clutch means movable with said movable cam ratchet when engaged, a spring adapted to be stressed by movement in one direction of said movable cam ratchet, an inertia wheel, means intermittently engaging said wheel arm, a cam ratchet movable by said arm in one direction, a stationary cam ratchet engaging with said movable cam ratchet, clutch means movable with said movable cam ratchet when engaged, said clutch means being disengageable on predetermined. relative movement of said cam ratchets, spring means stressed by movement of said cam ratchet in one direction and releasable by disengagement of said clutch means, an inertia wheel actuated by impulses from said spring means when released, and means controlled by the motion of said cam ratchet causing intermittent connection between said spring means and said inertia wheel for energizing said inertia wheel and permitting free rotation thereof after energization.

3. A mechanical motion comprising a strike arm, mutually engageable members, one of which is movable with said strike arm and adapted for progressive elevation and abrupt descent by the other member, clutch means movable with said movable member and disengageable by said abrupt descent, spring means stressed by movement of said movable member and releasable by disengagement of said clutch means, an inertia wheel, means intermittently engaging said inertia wheel and actuated by impulses of said spring means to impart rotative impulses to said wheel, said intermittent engagement being under the control of the elevation and depression of said movable member.

4. In a toy, a ball, an arm connected at one end to said ball by a universal joint, a toggle linkage connected to the other end of said arm, a strike arm connected to one of the levers of said toggle linkage, whereby said strike arm will be actuated only in one direction from an original position when said ball is caused to move in any of a plurality of different directions.

5. In a toy, a ball, an arm connected at one end to said ball by a universal joint, a toggle linkage connected to the other end of said arm, a strike arm connected to one of the levers of said toggle linkage, whereby said strike arm will be actuated only in one direction from an original position when said ball is caused to move in any of a plurality of diiferent directions, in combination with mutually engageable members, one of which is movable with said strike arm and adapted for progressive elevation and abrupt descent by the other member, clutch means movable with said movable member and disengageable by said abrupt descent, spring means stressed by movement of said movable member and releasable by disengagement of said clutch means, an inertia wheel, means intermittently engaging said inertia wheel and actuated by impulses of said spring means to impart rotative impulses to said wheel, said intermittent engagement being under the control of the elevation and depression of said movable member and means to translate the rotary motion of said wheel into oscillatory motion for operation of the limb of the toy.

6. In a toy, a ball, an arm connected at one end to said ball by a universal joint, a toggle linkage connected to the other end of said arm, a strike arm connected to one of the levers of said toggle linkage, whereby said strike arm will be actuated only in one direction from an original position when said ball is caused to move in any of a plurality of different directions and means for translating the motion of said strike arm into oscillatory motion for operation of the limb of the toy.

7. In a toy, a ball, an arm connected at one end to said ball by a universal joint, a strike arm, means connecting said ball connected arm to said strike arm and causing movement of said strike arm only in one direction from an original posi-- tion when said ball is moved in any of a pmrality of directions, in combination with a horse having a movable leg, means for translating the motion of said strike arm into oscillatory motion for moving said leg.

8. In a mechanical motion, an inertia wheel for driving devices connected thereto, means for imparting rotative motion to said wheel, said means being intermittently operative to impart said rotative motion and to permit it to continue freely, spring stressed means operating to suddenly apply an impulse to intermittently operating means, operating means to store energy in said springstressed means, clutch means connecting said operatingmeans andsaidspring-stressedmeans,said operating means urging said clutch into engagement during said energy storing movement and suddenly withdrawing said urging force permitting disengagement of said clutch means.

9. The mechanical motion as claimed in claim 8 in which inclined cam surfaces are employed to urge said clutch means into engagement and to suddenly withdraw said urging force.

WALTER A. SHANLEY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,169,665. r I August 15, 1959.

WALTER A. SHANIEY.

It is hereby certified that error appears -inthe printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5 560- 0nd column, line 32, after "Figs.." and before the syllable "ing" in line 3;, insert "8-15 as well as in the form of Figs. 1-7, the ris-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of' September, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

